Emergence and global spread of a dominant multidrug-resistant clade within Acinetobacter baumannii

The proliferation of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is driven by the global spread of epidemic lineages that accumulate antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Acinetobacter baumannii, a leading cause of nosocomial infections, displays resistance to most frontline antimicrobials and represents a significant challenge to public health. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive genomic analysis of over 15,000 A. baumannii genomes to identify a predominant epidemic super-lineage (ESL) accounting for approximately 70% of global isolates. Through hierarchical classification of the ESL into distinct lineages, clusters, and clades, we identified a stepwise evolutionary trajectory responsible for the worldwide…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 32170003, 32370099, 82202465
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

  Award: BK20211311
• SM
  Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau

  Award: SKY2021013
• ST
  Senior Talent Foundation of Jiangsu University

  Award: NCTIB2024JS0101